
by: David F Tolin, Randy O. Frost, Gail Steketee
Platform: Kindle
This book is written as a self-help manual for folks struggling with hoarding tendencies, their families, and their collaborative team. Right from the beginning of the book, I was impressed with the author's stance on this topic. They are sensitive to the use of the term "hoarders, " and are very respectful to their readers.
Much of the content in the book is research based and not simply observations from the authors. Several self-assessments are available to the readers to gauge your situation including safety and ADL (Activities of Daily Living). It is so important to understand the conditions that you are living in. Remember, if a person struggles with extreme chronic disorganization, it happened progressively and they may not see it like an outsider. Using these assessments will give them a better understanding. The authors also use self-assessments to walk you through some of your beliefs and self talk. Then they give readers strategies for beating hoarding. Knowing what thoughts are preventing you from making the progress you desire is a very powerful tool. The focus moves then to mindfulness of your surroundings and visualization, followed by a contract with yourself.
This book requires work. It is not a read and then put in to action activity. The book asks you many, many questions and really gets readers engaged in the process. I feel pretty strongly that this book can help people overcome their hoarding tendencies. The book would be a great compliment to working with a therapist on CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.) I highly suggest this book.